BCC Announces New Faculty/Staff, Promotions, Title Changes

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of four faculty/staff members, three promotions and two title changes. 
 
New Faculty/Staff
 
Jacqueline Bianco joins BCC as Assistant Professor - Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Originally from Trumbull, CT, she holds a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology / athletic training from the University of New Hampshire and a doctorate in physical therapy from Sacred Heart University. Bianco was a competitive gymnast in her youth, which led her to a career as a physical therapist. With 13 years of clinical experience, she was previously a physical therapist and personal trainer for Timeless Training and Gymfest Gymnastics in Pittsfield. She has lived in the Berkshires since 2011 and enjoys spending time with her 3-year-old daughter, working out, traveling to the beach and crocheting.
 
Caleb Kendig joins BCC as Maintainer I. A resident of Dalton, he is a graduate of McCann Technical school, where he studied information technology. He completed about two years of core classes and criminal justice classes at BCC before enrolling at Westfield State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in history. Throughout high school and the two years he was at BCC, he worked for BJs Wholesale Club as a cart pusher and cashier. After college, he worked security at a summer camp and then at BCC as contracted security before the Maintainer I opportunity arose. Hobbies include video games, board games, anime, TV and movies, and Dungeons and Dragons.
 
Sarah Ryndak joins BCC as Employee Engagement & Talent Development Specialist. With 16 years of experience in higher education administration at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the Human Resources Department. Most recently, she served as the administrative director of the Collaborative Arts & Open Arts Program, where her responsibilities included oversight for human resources and compliance. At BCC, Sarah will focus on employee engagement and training while contributing to all areas of HR. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a master’s degree in higher education from New York University’s Steinhardt School. Ryndak resides in Great Barrington with her husband and two daughters.
 
Rebecca Wehry joins BCC as Executive Director of Development. She brings extensive experience from her role as director of development at Buxton School, where she managed responsibilities similar to those she will take on at BCC. Previously, she served as associate director of development at Simon’s Rock for almost four years, including eight months as interim director. Wehry’s career began at MASS MoCA, where she spent 10 years in various roles, including manager of special events, partnerships and external affairs. She later joined Hancock Shaker Village. A Berkshire County native and MCLA graduate, Wehry also completed an undergraduate internship with Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, going on adventures with her husband and three stepchildren, and caring for their two dogs and flock of chickens.
 
 
Promotions
 
Jason Dion is now Interim Director of Facilities. Previously, he was Plumber and Steamfitter II. He has been with BCC since May 2024.
 
Kaila Mullaney is now Academic Affairs Division Manager. She joined BCC in September 2021 as Administrative Assistant for the Vice President and Office of Academic Affairs.
 
Erin Seagrave is now Executive Director of Academic Operations, Planning and Assessment. She was previously Director of Academic Operations. She has been with BCC since July 2022.
 
 
Title changes
 
Julia Curletti is now Division Manager, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Previously, she was Interim Division Manager, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. She has been with BCC since January 2017.               
 
Craig Ptak is now Recreation Facilities Supervisor III. Previously, he was Recreation Facilities Supervisor II. He joined BCC in March 2014.                

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Lanesborough Town Election Sees Expanded Select Board

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board will now have five people serving with the addition of two more board members elected on Tuesday. 

Juli Baker, Jeffery Walters and incumbent Michael Murphy took the three seats up for election in a five-way race, winning a three-year, two-year and one-year seat respectively based on the number of votes received. Out of the running were Scott Graves and Christian Halley.

Out of the more than 2,600 registered voters, 328 cast ballots Tuesday in the annual town election, or about a 12 percent turnout. 

The current board consists of Chair Deborah Maynard, Jason Breault, and Murphy. The new board was voted to have five members back in 2024 at the annual town meeting after resident Kristen Tool filed a citizens petition to expand it. The home-rule petition was sent to the Legislature and was approved late last year.

Murphy was running for a third term. He said he is not done with his work on the board and wants to see more projects done like the mall. He was voted back on with 168 votes for a one-year term.

"I feel like I've put in a good six years, but I do feel like there's a couple things that I'd like to see through that are still, you know, somewhere either on the front burner or the back burner," he said. "I'll talk about the mall, I'd love to play a role in seeing how that plays out. What's moved to the back burner after being on the front burner for a couple years is the need for a new police station. I still believe there's a need for that."

He is proud to be a part of the board that will expand its members and to have helped the town have a better atmosphere and attitude toward its residents.

"My proudest accomplishment is getting a better home for our Police Department, one that they need very well," Murphy said. "Some of the things that surprised me a little bit, but that I think I had an impact on, is improving the atmosphere within the Town Hall building. I think that's the best way to put it. There was a time, and I heard from many, many people in the community when I ran that I was surprised to hear how they didn't feel welcomed, they didn't feel comfortable, and I think that that attitude and that atmosphere has changed, and I've had something to do that."

Baker won the three-year term with 258 votes. Baker has been in Lanesborough since 2021 and has been participating on the Finance Committee, which she will now leave to be on the Select Board.

She ran because she felt she could help with her experience on many other boards and her ability to be a leader and see both sides of every story.

"I've had a lot of input into other groups like the planning board and the zoning board, and a lot of the issues that have been happening in town, and I feel like I have a very level head about very contentious issues, I look at all sides of every issue and cut through the emotions and get to the bottom of what the issue is and what's best for Lanesborough," she said.

Key issues she plans to address include managing tax increases that she has done with the finance board, addressing the short-term rental bylaw, and resolving the stalemate over the mall property to find the best way to get real value from the property.

Walters took the two-year term with 215 votes. Walters has been a resident for 26 years and owns Snap-On Tools dealership. He said he looks forward to working with the board and says one of the key issues he has heard is the taxes and wants to help maintain the residents taxes. He said he has been talking about running for about eight years and the bigger board helped push him to put his name on the ballot.

"I said I would like to run for a selectman. We're going to a five person select board, so I thought it'd be a good time. Being a small business owner, I feel I have something to contribute to add to the people that we have already in the Select Board," he said.

Graves said he wanted to be on the board to help others in the community feel welcome as he did not when he first came.

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